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Saturday, January 2, 2016

COUNTRY MUSIC LEGEND JEANNIE SEELY SET TO BE FIRST PERFORMER ON GRAND OLE OPRY IN 2016Seely Kicks Off 2016 with Opry, TV, Radio and LIVE Performances

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (January 1, 2016)
– Grammy-award winning and country music legend Jeannie Seely will be
the first performer on the Grand Ole Opry from 7:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
CST when the world-famous radio show returns to the Ryman Auditorium
tonight.

The distinctive-voiced lady, referred to as "Miss Country Soul," has a
full slate of appearances and live performances in 2016, including
Country's Family Reunion Road Show with Bill Anderson and dates with
Mickey Gilley, Johnny Lee, Jimmy Fortune, David Frizzell and T.G.
Sheppard.

Seely also recently guest hosted and performed on RFD-TV’s top-rated variety show “Larry’s Country Diner.”

June 2016 marks the 50th anniversary of Seely's first guest
performance on the Grand Ole Opry. At that time her first hit, "Don't
Touch Me" (recorded on March 12, 1966), was climbing the country music
charts. The following year on September 16, 1967, Seely became an
official member of the Grand Ole Opry. Later that year, she would win
the 1966 Grammy Award for "Best Country Vocal Performance by a Female"
for “Don’t Touch Me.”

Seely continues to regularly host and perform on the hallowed stage.
“My home continues to be the Grand Ole Opry, and that’s where my heart
is,” Seely said, a quote permanently inscribed into the backstage of the
Grand Ole Opry House.

"I feel very fortunate to be part of the Opry tradition and I truly
am indebted to all the wonderful fans that have supported me over the
years. If I’m in town and they invite me in - I’ll be there,” Seely
said.

Along with dozens of accolades, including awards from Billboard,
Cashbox and Record World, Seely has achieved No. 1 songs as a solo
artist, as a duet partner and as a songwriter. Her deeply moving vocals
earned her the nickname of "Miss Country Soul."

RECOMMENDED TWEET:
Country music legend #JeannieSeely set to be first performer, host on @Opry in 2016

ABOUT JEANNIE SEELY:
Born in Titusville, Pennsylvania, and raised on a farm outside of
nearby Townville, Seely was singing on Meadville radio station WMGW at
age 11, and by 16 was performing on TV station WICU in Erie. When she
moved to Nashville upon the encouragement of friend Dottie West, Seely
only had $50 and a Ford Falcon to her name, but within a month Porter
Wagoner hired her as the female singer for his road and television
series. On September 16, 1967, Seely’s biggest dream came true when she
became the first Pennsylvania native to become a member of the world
famous Grand Ole Opry. Seely subsequently became the first female to
regularly host segments of the weekly Opry shows. She’s also credited
for wearing the first mini-skirt on the Opry stage, as well as for
changing the image of female country performers. On March 2, 1967, the
National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences honored Jeannie with
the 1966 Grammy Award for the "Best Country Vocal Performance by a
Female." Edging out friends and fellow nominees Loretta Lynn ("Don't
Come Home A Drinkin'"), Dottie West ("Would You Hold It Against Me"),
Connie Smith ("Ain't Had No Loving") and Jan Howard ("Evil On your
Mind"), Seely became only the third female country artist to receive the
coveted Grammy. She accepted her award from Chet Atkins. With a
successful breakthrough hit, Seely found herself traveling from coast to
coast for concert appearances. The new demands forced her to leave
Porter Wagoner's show - and today Seely jokes that she was replaced by
Dolly Parton because Dolly's 'hits' were bigger. A BMI-awarded
songwriter, Seely’s songs have been recorded by Country Music Hall of
Fame members Faron Young, Merle Haggard, Ray Price, Willie Nelson,
Ernest Tubb and Little Jimmy Dickens, as well as by many other artists
including Doyle Lawson, Lorrie Morgan, Connie Smith and Irma Thomas.
Along with placing records on the Billboard country singles chart for 13
consecutive years, Seely also served as a radio disc jockey on her own
Armed Forces Network Show, traveled on military tours throughout Europe
and Asia, made numerous appearances on national television shows,
published her own book of witticisms titled "Pieces of a Puzzled Mind"
and starred in several major stage productions, including "Always, Patsy
Cline" and "The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas." Seely also appeared
in Willie Nelson’s "Honeysuckle Rose" movie and sang on the platinum
soundtrack album. Seely has been known throughout her career as an
individualist, as well as for her infectious humor. Despite personal and
career setbacks that range from a 1977 near-fatal auto accident to a
devastating flood in 2010 in which she lost her home, car and personal
belongings, Jeannie Seely has remained a survivor with her sense of
humor intact. From her 1966 Top 10 Billboard album "The Seely Style" to
her 2011 self-produced CD Vintage Country Jeannie’s recordings have now spanned six decades and provided enjoyment to country music fans all around the world.